Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, May 17: The transparent vistadome coaches having luxury seats, introduced between Mangaluru and Bengaluru with the purpose of enabling the passengers to enjoy the beauty of the Western Ghats, has received a lot of appreciation.
Most of the time the coach gets booked in advance, and the waiting list is getting longer. The vistadome coaches which travelled from Yeshwantpur to Mangaluru Junction on Thursday and Saturday and the one on Sunday were fully booked by Tuesday afternoon itself. The coaches from Mangaluru junction to Yeshwantpur starting on Thursday were also full and the one on Sunday too are full.
In the past, the people had not been preferring to go to Bengaluru by day train because of the tedious journey and perceived waste of time. Now, because of vistadome, the day trains too are getting full of passengers. Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav, has shared his happiness at the fact that vistadome coaches have been pressed into service between Mangaluru and Bengaluru.
The Train Passengers Welfare Committee (Kundapur) has written to the chairman of Konkan Railway and managing director, seeking to resume operation of the Karwar-Bengaluru train between Mangaluru and Karwar as this section of the trip has been curtailed now. If the vistadome coaches which come to Mangaluru from Bengaluru are extended to Karwar, the passengers will be able to view more attractive and religious spots. Some of the things they can view are Panchagangavali confluence, Lord Shiva idol at Murudeshwar, Sharavathi Bridge, Konkan Ghats, and unique tunnels which are located on the Konkan railway route.
When the train is about to climb the hilly track from Subrahmanya Road when going towards Bengaluru, braker is applied to the rear side of the vistadome coaches. The travellers therefore lose the chance to view the panoramic view of the Ghats from the backside. On the return journey, however, this problem is not there. The train moves with different numbers on all seven days, which can confuse some travellers.
Kishen Bangera, deputy station manager (commercial) Mangaluru, said that the vistadome coaches have got good response from the passengers and the project will become more popular as the days pass.